Tire-protector.



0. E. KING. TIRE PROTECTOR. APPLIOATION FILED .T AN. 30, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

CLARENCE E. KING, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

TIRE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Application led January 30, 1909. Serial No. 475,132.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. KING, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in protectors for vehicle tires and more particularly to that class which are applied to the exterior of the tire in the nature of a sheath or casing, and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple and cheap, yet eiiicient and durable tire protector easily applied, and so constructed that any worn part` may be readily replaced without destroying the remaining portions.

A further object of the .invention is to provide for the lateral expansion of the protector when the tire becomes compressed or spread laterally as the portion thereof in contact with the ground receives the weight of the wheel or vehicle.

I provide further for the ready removal or insertion of a block or member Whenever desired, as well as for the ready attachment of the protector to the vehicle rim so as to prevent creeping of the protector upon the latter.

Broadly stated, the protector; comprises a member, of metal or other suitable material, given a curved form, approximately that of the pneumatic tire, and having pfer;

`forations through which extend the wearing surfaces or blocks, of rubber, wood, concrete or anycother suitable material, said curved mem r being formed in sections pivotally united and the pivotal connections being such as to allow of lateral expansion at the joints. The bearing blocks or surfaces have flanged portions curved to conform to the curvatureof the tire and engaged with the inner surface of the curved member and held against outward dis lacement.

By the employment o my rotector, the

pneumatic tire maybe of an' 1n erior quality,v

and the life of old tires may be materially increased or lengthened.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is capable of embodiment in a variety of forms, the preferable ones of which -are illustrated in the accompanying suitable material,

drawings, which, with the nuinera'ls'of .reference marked thereon, form a part of .this speciicatlon, and 1n which- Figure l is a side elevation of a portion 'the arrow. Fig. 3 is, a sectional detaill on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking at the inner -face of the adjacent ends of two of the pivoted sections of the curved member. -Fig.- 5 is a similar view. on a smaller scale showing the adjacent ends of the -two'sections which are united after the protecting casing has been placed upon'the tire. Fig. 6 1s a perspective y detail of one of the bearing blocks removed. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the lateral expansion at the pivots ofthe sections of the casing when the tire is compressed and laterally expanded. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail showing one form of means for connecting the ends of the casing after it is applied to the wheel. Fig. 9 is a perspective vlew of a portion of one of the sections of lrhe base member. Fig. 10 is a detail in side elevation showing a modified construction.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates .the rim, 2 the spokes and 3 the pneumatic tire of a .vehicle wheel of any well-known or approved form of construction.

My present improvement comprises a pro' tector or casing or sheath for the pneumatic tlre. It comprises a base member or holder ,composed of a plurality of sections, of any glven number, each section 4 being given a curved or concave form, approximately that of the curvature of the tire under normal conditions.h These sections may be of any.' I

stamped yor otherwise formed into the desired shape, of sheet metal, galvanized iron, aluminum, copper or other material suited to the purpose. Each section is formed with one or more perforations 5 in its peripheral face, and the sub'- stantially parallel or side edges may or may not be provided with perforations 6, as seen clearly in Figs. l, 4, 5 and 9. These perforations, when present, may be of any desired length and frequency and, when the base member is formed of" leather or such material, as seen at 7 in Fig. 10, these perforations or slots may be suitably reinforced by metal or anyother suitable material, in any well-known way, as seen at 8 in said Fig. 10. These slots or perforationsserve to lighten the base member and also serve as means of connection of the straps 9 provided with buckles 10 and engaged about the rim 1 forvthe purpose of holding the base memberfin proper position with relation to -the tire. In order to prevent creeping of the protector upon the tire, these straps may be arranged as shown at the left of Fig. 1 vwhere they are illustrated as crossed so as to engage upon opposite sides of a spoke. As many of these crossed strapsas may be deemed necessary may be employed upon th-e wheel. Any other suitable means, however, may be employed for securing the protector to the tire or for preventing it from creeping thereupom The sections 4 of the base member are pivotally connected and, for this purpose, the adjacent ends of adjoining sections are loverlapped, as seen clearly in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. In this instance, have shown rivets 11 for connecting these overlapped ends. These rivets pass through such overlapped ends, and, in order to permit of the necessary .lateral expansion atthese pivotal points, I make the rivets of greater length than the combined thicknesses of the two overlapped sections, as seen very clearly in Figs. 2, 4 and 7. In Fig. 2,'the parts are shown with fthe rivets in the position they assume' under normal conditions, it being noted that the edges of the sections of the base member closely embrace the tire and the length of the rivets provides sutlicient room for outward movement of these overlapped ends when the weight of the vehicle is upon the lowermost section, that is, that which at that time is nearest the ground. At this time, the position of the parts will be that seen in Fig. 7 wherein it will be noted that the edges 'f of the base member are laterally expanded or pressed outward by the compression of the tire. As soon as the wheel revolves so that the laterally expanded member is moved -out of engagement with the ground, the

parts sprinc` back 4to their normal position, that seen in Fig. 2, the loose rivets allowing such movement and yet holding the overlapped ends in proper position.

-12 'designates the wearing or bearing blocks or members. They are curved in cross section to conform to the curvature of the tire and are provided with a surrounding flange 13 which projects not only at the sides but at the ends, as seen clearly in Fig. G. These blocks or members may be of rubber, wood, composition -or any other material found best suited to the purpose. They are formed separately and put in position by passing through from the inner side of the base member-so that the blocks proper project through the aperture 5 in said base member andthe flanged portion. 13 has a material bearing all around against the inner face of the base section, as indicated clearly in Fig. 3, so that the blocks are held against being forced outward and displaced from their position within the base member of the casing. In orderv to allow sufficient `movement y ofthe sections of thebase member one upon the other upontheir pivots .to permit the removal of a worn or damaged block and the insertion of another, I cut away-.fone end of each section, as seen at 14 in litige.'y '4, and 9 and as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4,

this cut away portion, however, being protected by the lapped end of the adjacent section, 4as will be readily understood.

In practice, the requisite'number of seetions 4 to approximately embrace the tire are providedv l and the protector placed' stud to pass through the enlarged portion of the slot, and then the expansion of thetire will spread the protector and bring the stud into the narrowed member of the slot in a manner which will be readily understood. In use the blocks 12 contact with the ground and take the wear, their fianges expanding. to conform to the expansion of the tire and yet not suliiciently to allow them to be accidentally forced out of their aperture in the'base member If it' be found necessary to allow slight endwi'semovement of the sections 4 to compensate' for the expansion or compression of the tire, this may be easily9permittcd by slightly elongatingthe slots in which the rivets 11 work, as indicated at 16x in Fig. 4.

If necessary, more than one keyhole slot may be .provided in the overlapped end of one of the members to provide for any necessary adjustment of the length of the protector.

From the above, it will be seen that I have devised a simple and eliicient protective casing for automobile tires and the like, and, while the structural embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed is what I at the present time. consider preferable, it is evident. that the same is subject to changes, g

variations and modifications in detail.. proportion of parts etc., and I therefore do not wish to bc restricted to the particular construction and arrangement herein disclosed, but reserve the right to make such changes,

vvariations and inodic'ations as come properly within the scope offtlifeprotection prayed. f

What l claim as newi-5 1 f v l. A tire protector consisting of a base member of pvotally united curved sections having perforations in their `peripheral `faces, and separately formed blocks retainedv Within and projecting through perforutions in seidf biise member, said blocks being curved to conform to the curvature of the base inem-berend having their inner faces curved to conformjto the curvature of the tire.

A tire protector embodying' n base member of curved sections having?Y overlapped ends, ea;id overlapped ends being provided with coincident' openings,. and means passed through 'Said openings for pivota'ily uniting said secto'ns,` said Ineens being of greater length Vthen the, combined thickness of the overlapped portions o" the sections und freely movable Within said openings.

A3. A tire protector composed of pivotally united sections curved to conform to the 30th deyV of January. 1909.

curvature of the tire, the pivots of said sections constructed to permit lateral expansion, said sections being peripberelly erforated, and dan ed bearing blocks proJecting throu h vsei perforations, the' parallel l portions o seid sectionsbeing provided with longitudinally disposed slots.

4. A, tire protector comprising e base member of cui-ved overlapped sections with peripheral perforetions, one end of each seotion being longitudinally cut away, vmeans pivotally uniting` the overlapped sections and allowin lete'rel expansion thereof, and Handed bloc rs inserted .from the inner side of the base member and rejecting through said perfo`retions5 said b ocks being curved to conform'to the curvature of the tire,'the ends of. the base member-being provided with interlocking securn means.

Signed by me at Was ington D. @this 'l CLARENCE E. KING. lVitnesses:

ROBERT A.. BosWELL", 

